“The bomb injured seven pedestrians. There were no vehicles passing there by that time,’’ he said.

The injured persons were taken to hospital, said Abdikadir Abdirahman, Director of Amin Ambulances emergency service that transported the injured persons.

Somalia had been engulfed by violence and lawlessness since early 1990s when dictator Mohamed Siad Barre was toppled.

Al Shabaab wants to install its own government based on its strict interpretation of Islamic law.

The group’s campaign of violence typically targets the military and African Union-mandated peacekeeping force — AMISOM — although the militants are also accused of targeting civilians, something they deny.

On Sunday, four civilians died in Mogadishu in mortar attacks that were claimed by al Shabaab.